Harenna Bamboo and Waterfall Trail

Harenna Bamboo and Waterfall Trail: 

Harenna Bamboo and Waterfall Trail

Less than an hour’s walk from the center of Rira (in the Harenna forest) are two waterfalls, stacked almost on top of each other, tucked away in a narrow canyon filled with bamboo. The trail can either begin or end at the park sub-headquarters, located 1.5km south of the village center or at the Bale Mountain Lodge. Beginning and ending at the park sub-HQ, the round trip hike takes 2 hours. One way from the Bale Mountain Lodge to the waterfall (or opposite direction) takes 5-6 hours.

The hike takes you through mountain forests, descends steeply into the open range and then into the bamboo-filled canyon. The trail crosses the river on a natural land bridge, giving you a perfect view of the first, shorter waterfall. Following the trail to the left of the waterfall basin, you will climb up around the falls to the second waterfall. A large pool at the base of the second waterfall is a great spot for photos and offers a chance to soak your feet. Although chilly, the water is clean and ideal for a dip. Afterwards, continue up the loop trail out of the canyon for a birds-eye view of the falls as well as sweeping views to the south. Continue along the trail past a pair of inhabited huts and then cross a footbridge over the river and continue up to the sub-headquarters and the trailhead. Keep your eyes peeled for the black-and-white colobus monkey and the elusive Bale monkey as well as Menelik’s bushbuck. Birds in the area include the grey cuckoo shrike, Abyssinian catbird, Ruppell’s robin-chat, Abyssinian ground thrush, white-cheeked turaco and many more.